Volume II Part 26 (2/2)
I should certainly like Mr Asai veryaccount of him; and, at any rate, I expect to see both you and hi If you think he would like a copy of ”Kokoro” it will make me very happy to send him one As he has studied philosophy, however, I don't knohat he will think of the chapters on the Idea of Preexistence and the Worshi+p of Ancestors You know the school of thought that I follow is bitterly opposed; and I believe it is not honestly taught in any English establishht; but only the French have given it really fair attention abroad
LAFCADIO HEARN (Y KOIZUMI)
P S It made me feel queer to be addressed by Prof Toyama as ”Mr
Yakumo Koizumi”!
TO ELLWOOD HENDRICK
TOKYO, May, 1896
DEAR HENDRICK,--So me books Did you send ht Mrs
Rollins had sent it, and I wrote to her nice things about it, which vexed her into sending me a very sharp criticisfor the sender! Where a I did think the book nice because of my belief that she sent it; and I am now equally convinced that it isn't nice at all, because she proved that it was not I should certainly make a bad critic if I were acquainted with authors and their friends One sees what does not exist wherever one loves or hates As I am rather a creature of extree of work I have not tried to answer Mrs Rollins's letter--fact is, I _can't_
No: the head on the title-page of ”Kokoro” is not Kazuo, but the head of a little boy called Takaki The photograph was soft and beautiful, and showed an uncommonly intellectual type of japanese head The woodcut is rather coarse and hard--But I enclose a third edition of Kazuo: he is growing a little better-looking, but is not so strong as I could wish; and he is so sensitive that I am very much worried about his future Physical pain he bears well enough; but a mere look, a careless word, a moment of unconscious indifference is fire to his little soul I don't knohat to do with him If he shows the artistic temperament I shall try to educate him in Italy or France With an e Latins I confess that I can only bear the uncolishmen, Germans, and Americans,--the conventional types simply drive me wild On the other hand, I can feel at home with even a villain, if he be Spaniard, Italian, or French
According to evolutionary doctrine, however, it seems not unlikely that the Latin races will be squeezed out of existence in the future pressure of civilization They cannot hold their own against the superior massiveness of the Northern races,--who, unfortunately, have no art-feeling at all They will be absorbed, I suppose In the industrial invasion of the barbarians, the men will be quietly starved to death, and the women taken by the conquerors History will repeat itself without blood and shrieks
What is the present matter with American civilization? Nearly all the clever Ao ”out of town” for their studies of life A There is soland--the authors have to go out of England Of course, there are soreat writers deal with civilized life as it is? They go to the Highlands, like Black and Barrie,--or to Italy, like Crawford,--or to strange countries, like Kipling;--but who to-day would write ”A London Ro of English literary superiority? It is all very well to howl about the copyright question, and the shameful treatment of American authors; but what A women like Mrs Deland and Miss Jewett and Mrs Phelps, etc,--what Alish methods? James is certainly our best;--so London steals him; but he stands alone Alish writers that ht be named
It certainly is not a question of reh ability is always sooner or later able to get all it asks for It , and A to do with it
Again--English work is so massive--even at its worst: the effort s too _fast_ The English are slow and exact I am told that the other Northern races are still soreat Russia But in the France of 1896, what is doing? The greatest writers of the age are dead or silent
Is not our horrible co to choke all aspirational life into silence? After the Du Maurier school, ill even England be able to do? Alfred Austin after Alfred Tennyson!
These are ain, I think of a possible new idealisreater than anything Victorian;--and I reress is rhythmical But if this comes, it will be only, I fear, after we have been dust for a century
I feel this is an awfully stupid letter But I'll write a better one soon My best wishes for your big, big, _big_ success They will be realized, I think
Ever affectionately, LAFCADIO HEARN
TO ELLWOOD HENDRICK
MIONOSEKI, IZUMO, July, 1896
DEAR HENDRICK,--I have just had a htful letter from you Your letters are full of witty flashes and curious observation As they contain personal portraits, I ret it--like a destruction of the artistic The rapid sketches they give of the most extraordinary bits of character, in the midst of the most extraordinary and co your own most peculiar opportunities could make
Do you ever reflect how much more of life you are able to see in one month than the ordinaryto a purely o such experiences were not possible--at least upon any scale to speak of
But why is it that the most extraordinary experiences of business men are never written? Is it because, like the scholarly specialist who knows too much about literature to make any literature, they see toofor others is for them the commonplace,--perhaps Or perhaps they are not sympathetic like your friend Macy,--have no inclination to apply the philosophy of relations to what they see and study?
I have been sick--eyes and lungs;--and now I ae to recruit I swim in the harbour every day for about five hours, and a thinner and stronger There are no tables here, and I have to write on the floor
With best love and felicitations, LAFCADIO HEARN
TO SENTARO NIshi+DA